A water main break has caused flooding and the closure of a busy intersection in downtown Austin early Monday, April 13. Austin Water confirmed that the intersection at Sixth Street and Red River will be closed to traffic for several hours while repairs are done.
An Austin Water spokesperson told MySA that crews responded quickly around 4:30 a.m. to the water main break on Red River Street in downtown Austin. The department is now asking drivers and pedestrians to follow detour signs and use alternate routes.
Austin Water said that its crews are working quickly and safely to complete the repairs, which are expected to take approximately 8 hours. The city water line added that it will provide an update once repairs are complete.
A video from TikTok user @jakeg4421 shows Austin Water crews working near a massive hole near Esther’s Follies comedy club on 6th Street. While the street now appears to be drying up, the water main break led to flooding and wet roads, according to early photos of the scene captured by KXAN.
Sixth and Red River Streets are both closed for about a block in each direction, and are slated to reopen by noon Monday. MySA reached out to the Austin Police Department for more information.
MySA will update this story once the intersection reopens.